Story Summary

The group met up with Caithe as she led them down the tunnel towards the Twilight Grove. Along the way Caithe explained what she knew about The Nightmare Court. They are being run by a Secondborn Sylvari named Caderyn, he has recruited a Firstborn Sylvari called Caera to his cause and as his second in command. This group wants to try understand the Nightmares seen in The Dream and bring them to life by commiting cruel and evil acts in the town. Their overall goal being to corrupt The Mother Tree to bring her around to their ideals and way of thinking.

They having been gaining support in secret and been in hiding, but there have been whispers of the group moving out beyond the town and spreading to the forest and nearby towns like TuskHaven. Caithe explains that they have gained too much support to simply attack head on and doing so would cause a civil war for their race. Their only hope is to infiltrate and bring down the group from the inside.

After taking the left at a fork in the road the group found themselves in a large cavern, there were 6 golden frames covered by red curtains along the walls, one of which had a golden rope next to the painting. Further ahead were a set of square geometric tiles stretching from wall to wall, at the end of the cavern there was another set of 6 golden frames covered by the same red curtain. Caithe apologises to the group and explains that this task will involve more than fighting and they need to be sure that the group is up to the task and thus must solve the puzzle ahead of them.

The group takes turns pulling the golden rope which reveals the person who pulled the rope in the painting as the curtain opened saluting. Kara eventually wonders off to the other frames and as the curtain gets pulled she sees a picture of herself pointing. Figuring out they all needed to stand in front of a frame, the group pulled the curtain and copied the poses of themselves in the painting. Different coloured gems appeared in the paintings which each person took.

When this happened the geometric tiles lit up and begun moving in random patterns towards the group. They spent time experimenting with the blue lights, figuring out if they touched the light on the tiles they would be teleported back to the start of the tiles. Badger, having an idea, wild shaped into a spider and ran along the wall with his gem to reach the end. Once he did, one of the paintings materialised with himself as a spider shrugging with a space to put the gem. He put the gem back into the painting which immediately smoothed over. The group after a bit more experimenting, ducked and weaved through the lights to make their way to the end and insert their gems into the paintings which revealed a door.

Caithe casts a spell of Mass Invisibility on the group and leads them through the town into Caithe’s house where they meet Trahearne, another Firstborn Sylvari set to bring down the Nightmare Court. The group had the chance to ask a few more questions before getting a nights rest and being disguised as Sylvari before heading to the shopping distract to buy various items to refill their supplies. Their shopping done, they were led to The Grove of Tiressia where The Nightmare Court have taken up residence.

The group stated their intentions to join their cause wand were granted a meeting with Caera, the second in command. Entering Caera’s house, they learn that Caderyn has become unstable and now wishes to destroy The Mother Tree and take her place himself, something that a large majority of The Nightmare Court don’t agree with. Caera asks the groups help to take down Caderyn so she can take her place and stop the murder of The Mother Tree. Aligning with the groups goals, they agree to help caera and to meet back here in 48 hours after she has had time to set up her plan. She adds in the meantime it would help to try disrupt Caderyn’s supporters which have secluded themselves down 3 different pathways.

The group decides to head back to The Twilight Grove for the meantime save for Kara and Rhai. Rhai decided to follow Caera to see if he could see where Caderyn was located but wasn’t stealthy enough to evade Caera. He stated his intentions to want to meet Caderyn for himself, understanding his logic, she told him if he made a name for himself, she could convince Caderyn to meet with him. Satisfied, Rhai went off and informed the group from now on he could not be seen with them and went down the right path to find a number of Sylvari trapped in cages or restrained with various injuries. With a show of minor illusion he scared the prisoners, getting a chuckle from the guards. His deed done, Rhai left, leaving Kara down the middle path.

Story Summary

Both keen to escape the town, Ritic and Zashida decided to initiate the adventure recently posted requesting the delivery of a letter. Assembling a team, Bob and Elodin raised their interest and Crimson and Elle also decided to join.

Arriving at the lean-to extension adjacent to the bank, otherwise known as the Tuskhaven Postal Office, the group entered, accepting the assignment and signing a contractor agreement in triplicate.

The party spent several hours calculating their consumable needs and purchasing equipment and pack animals before finally setting out in the late afternoon.

After clearing the farming land stretching for miles around the town, the party found themselves in the territory of Howl of the North Wind. Approached by 3 well-fed wolves, the party made tribute with 15 pounds of food in accordance with the agreement.

Eventually, the party camped for the night, waking to find their bags had been rifled through and some food had been stolen.

The party continued their travel that day, running into an angry freshwater turtle that attacked Bob while he attempted to refill his waterskin. The party wailed on the beast until Bob’s well placed punch to the head knocked the cantankerous animal out. Killing it, the party carried it back to shore and continued their journey, camping for the night at the mouth of the Gurdin River.

As he prepared the turtle for later consumption, Bob discovered a sword beneath its shell.

Story Summary

As the group met up in the Mystic Woodpecker they received a mysterious note written in Sylvan on the bark of a tree, they realised that none of them know Sylvan. Vogni recalled that he knew someone who knew how to read Sylvan and called him over. The note read as follows:

“You do not know us, but we need your help, there are those who wish to go against everything we believe in and they are growing in numbers. We are the Sylvari, talk to your Countess and come to the entrance of the tunnel in the forest quickly, we are running out of time.”

After assembling a group, Kara quickly ran off to buy a Longsword before rejoining the group to meet with the Countess. After a brief interaction with the guards and receptionist the group was led to the Audience Chamber where Countless Lily and Count Seven Fingers were waiting. After explaining their situation and what was on the bark, Lily quickly called in Vergrand to discuss before revealing that the Sylvari were allies known only to a few in the Palace and if they were in trouble, they needed help right away. Vergrand quickly drew a map for the group to find the hidden tunnel entrance, and with a signed note from Lily for supplies they visited the General Store and Blacksmith to buy some new supplies before setting off.

After a few hours travel, Vogni noticed a strange red rust on the trees and called it out to the group, Torinn, having experience with maps and the forest immediately recognised it as Russet Mould, a poisonous mould that indicated the presence of Vegiepygmy’s nearby. Not long after the group found themselves in a clearing, Torinn threw a secondary torch into the clearing and cautiously stepped forward with the group following him. Right before they attacked, Rhai noticed Vegiepgymy’s emerging from the darkness and alerted the group.

A tense fight continued with multiple party members falling unconscious to the Vegiepgymy’s as the battle wore on. Not long after the fight started, a Vegiepygmy emerged from the darkness behind them, this one however was in a more humanoid form weilding a Quarterstaff, with somewhat familiar features to anyone who frequented the Guild. After the struggle and thanks to Badger’s healing spirit and Rhai’s necrotic attacks as well as the groups cold attacks, they defeated the Vegiepygmy’s and marched forward to the entrance of the tunnel where they met a young Sylvari Firstborn by the name of Caithe. Caithe led the group into the tunnel towards the town of Twilight Grove.

Experience Summary

Story Awards

Grove of TiressiaIn Progress

Arrived at Twilight GroveIn Progress

Encounter Awards

Vegiepygmy x6 +300xp
Fallen Vegiepygmy +500xp

Subtotal +800xp

Travel Awards

1x Days Travel +50xp

Subtotal +50

Total Experience Earned

Ritic the half-elf Paladin marched triumphantly to the palace, laying down his completed and signed testimony in front of the female secretary. She looked up at him in confusion, “what’s this?” she asked.
“A report of a crime madam, this is my testimony.”, Ritic replied with authority.
The secretary paused. “sure okay, but next time you can just pop it in the mail slot. I’ll make sure it’s passed on to the Count.” Satisfied his civic duty had been completed, Ritic left to attend to other duties.

It was several weeks of Ritic returning every day to check the palace for news of the trial he was sure to occur before he found a bill posted:

“I, Count Edward Seven-Fingers of Tuskhaven, under the authority and jurisdiction of the Dragonskull Empire make the following declarations, exercising my discretion under the Dragonskull Penal Code to exempt the need for a trial in the following matters and passing the following sentences”

“In the matter of Captain Thank Panke of Tuskhaven, be it so known that the County of Tuskhaven, under the authority and jurisdiction of the Dragonskull Empire, has found the defendant innocent of all charges”

“In the matter of Cosimina of regions unknown, be it so known that the County of Tuskhaven, under the authority and jurisdiction of the Dragonskull Empire, has found the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree and is sentenced to twenty years of servitude to the empire.”

“In the matter of Starlia of regions unknown, be it so known that the County of Tuskhaven, under the authority and jurisdiction of the Dragonskull Empire, has found the defendant guilty of aiding and abetting the crime of murder in the first degree and 4 additional counts of assault with intention to harm and is sentenced to twenty years of servitude to the empire.”

Angered by what he read, Ritic snatched the parchment from the board and marched into the palace, demanding an answer from the secretary. “this… SHAM is a perversion of justice and a besmearchment on the good name of Dragonskull. The law is sacrosanct to society and the Count ought to be ashamed of himself! I demand an audience immediately!” as he spoke he felt the shadows of the palace guard closing in behind him and the secretary sat in shock. Just as the guards were about to seize Ritic, a voice rang out from a balcony. “Wait.” the voice echoed down to the foyer. The guards complied. After a moment, a rugged looking middle-aged man wearing noble vestments with accents of purple descended the stairs, he approached Ritic and stared him right in the eye. Ritic recognised Count Seven-Fingers from public events but up close his not traditionally handsome features and heavy glare were quite unsettling. “come with me” he muttered, dismissing the guards.

Entering the palatial board room, the Count gestured for Ritic to sit as he poured wine for the two of them. He passed Ritic a full glass of dark red wine as he sat opposite, “Do you know what the greater good is, young paladin?” he muttered in his croaking voice.
“Your Lordship, the law exists to ensure the greatest good for all parties by-” replied Ritic,
“Yes. Yes it does. However the law is fallible, it’s created by fallible men”
“My lord, I saw Captain Panke aid those murderers myself! it is beyond question that she’s guilty!”
The Count ascended from his chair, taking a sip from his wine and looking out over the Tuskwater from the rear window.
“You know, Mr Ritic” Count Seven-Fingers began, “The Panke family have done a lot for this town, they are good people, and good loyal people are not common in this world.”
“Surely this does not put them above the law sir.” he looked into the Counts eyes as he turned around to face him, Ritic hadn’t yet touched his glass.
“No it doesn’t, but sometimes the law fails to understand the nuances of the greater good. Sometimes it needs a little push.”
“What are you saying?” Ritic looked shocked.
“Sometimes not individuals, but the greatest good is above the law” he muttered with raised eyebrows as he leaned onto the table to look Ritic in the eye.
“With all due respect my lord, that’s not how the law works.”
“That’s how the law works in Tuskhaven half-elf. And you would be best to follow it. That will be all, i’ll escort you the the door.”
Complying, Ritic rose from his chair to meet Count Seven-Fingers at the door.
“This is not how it should be done your lordship, you haven’t heard the last of this.”
The Count shook his head and again brought his face close to the half-elf, “For your sake, I hope I have”, closing the door behind him.

Attendance

Story Summary

The party start their day off with a nice nutritious breakfast and board Thanks boat, ready to take this day by storm. As they progress up river, Thank requests they head for a clearing on the river where it would be a safe place to put the boat and continue on foot the last of the journey. She mentions there are lizardfolk ahead, but she is unsure if their trade deal still stands, and thus, would like to avoid going too close to them.

The party journey along the river for some time, following Thank, and encounter a human man bulky in stature and a slender, elven woman. Both are wearing charcoal grey bandanas. The woman introduces herself as Cosimia, and gestures to the male, Leif. He does not talk and is clearly not in charge here. She mentions they are looking to start a group of people who patrol the river, and make home for themselves in the forest.

Ander and Ritics bickering confuses Cosimina and thus her and Leif, turn around and leave. Ritic is convinced they are still a threat and asks Thank what she knows of the two. She tells them she knows very little, but the last time she saw them, there was a third person. Another elf of similar appearance to Cosimina. And the man was much less somber.

They continue on for some time when Roxee tells the party she hears something. A loud buzzing.
The party move themselves around trees to try flank whatever is coming for them, not knowing it is 6 Giant Wasps. Thank digs a glowing handaxe from her pack and takes on the wasp in front of her, while each of the party, attack their wasps in turn.
Ander is attacked by a wasp and falls to the ground. Thank, having downed her wasp, runs to his side, but is unable to help. Lost in the grief of killing a creature.

Ander clings on for dear life as is party fumble in their fight. Ritic drops his flail and punches a wasp, and Roxee finishes off the wasp in front of her.
Unfortunately, Ander (rolling a nat. 1) can no longer fight off the poison running through his blood anymore, and succumbs to death.

Mourning the loss of their fallen comrade, the party turn to Thank asking if her the Lizardfolk would help. She isnt sure, but isnt against trying.
They are allowed entry, and are taken to the Cheif, but he insists the body is burnt. They cannot stay while the body is here.

Ritic asks the party to collect wood and sticks to build a pyre, and he performs a funeral ritual on the body, taking an imprint of Anders hand and reciting his last rites, he lights the pyre. Once the fire diminishes, he kneels, taking some of the ashes to return them to Tuskhaven.
The party take refuge in the “town” overnight and awaken to another breakfast, they thank the cheif and head up river.

As they start following the river north, they see a body floating unmoving, its hair moving in the current.

Traga tries to asses if there is a threat nearby, he fails, all he can hear is the faint lapping of the river.
Thank gasps, “Its her” and collapses into tears. So much loss in such a small amount of time has taken its toll on the Captain.
Toriin starts to inch his way into the water, awakening a drowned maiden, who attacks him and renders him prone. The party fight valiantly, using powers of the divine and chopping at the limb-like hair attacking them whilst Thank digs through her pack looking for something. She pulls a whistle out and blows it.

Theyve connected that this is the missing one from earlier. The third one.

Roxee is taken hostage by the maidens hair and Traga and Ritic fight it to get it off of her, Thank pulls a now conscious Toriin from the water and onto the banks. Traga pulls the maiden into shore, using her hair which is currently wrapped around him, and the party continues to attack her.

They hear a loud noise coming from the forest behind them, and Cosimina and Leif emerge. The maiden makes a piercing scream and tries to dash to him, only to be stopped by Traga.
Thank seeing Cosimina is in need of aid runs to assist her while the party continues dealing blows to the maiden.

After a failed strength check, Leif is dragged towards the river by the maiden, Cosimina, and Thank. He slips in some mud and lies prone, but conscious on the floor.
The maiden tries pulling him in, but is still fighting off the attacks of the party. Succeeding to get Lief in the water, he is drowned and a bright white light shoots up into the sky.

The maiden is now breathing, her skin is no longer pale, she drops to her knees and begins to wail uncontrollably. Cosimina throws herself into the water, and pulls the girl into her arms, sobbing. “I cant believe it. i cant believe you’re back”

Toriin, infuriated by Thanks misinformation, punches her.
They ask why she helped and she apologises – saying she’d lost men to these before. Shed lost a sibling. Wouldn’t you do anything for a sibling too, if you could?
Ritic is pissed, What they did was not lawful. Thank says she follows the law of the sea.

The party tie the sisters up and allow Thank the opportunity to sail them back, as the trip would be too long on foot. None of them fight or show any resistance.
As they head back to the boat, Cosiminia takes the time explain why she did it. Leif was a criminal, he’d raped many women and killed many more. He drowned her sister. She cut out his tongue as punishment, but it wasn’t enough.
She did it to get justice for all the women she couldn’t save. Having her sister, Starlia back was worth potential time in jail.

Boarding the boat and sailing back to Tuskhaven, the two sisters and Thank allow the party to take them before the Lord and Lady. Ready to face whatever the jury sees fit.

Attendance

Story Summary

After returning from a failed attempt to capture a forest drake, Ritic and Traga meet in the Mystic Woodpecker to find another job on the bulletin board.

Finding one posted by Warden Shank about a threat in the south, the two approach a Cleric named Ander, inviting him and a new guild member, Toriin the Dragonborn along for the quest. Though, on second thought, deciding they want one more companion, the party asks Roxee the bard who’s currently performing in the inn if she would like to come. Without a hint of hesitation, she says yes.

Ritic, Traga and Toriin then head to Shank to get more information. He didn’t tell them much other than the man was a weak human man who went with 3 other weak human men and he came back alone. Found out about it at the docks. Before taking their leave, and collecting the rest of their party, Toriin asks if he can look at Shanks weapon. He promises Toriin can do so on upon their return.

Heading to the docks, and getting very little information from a very rude Tradesman. They head to the largest ship docked, and tentatively and unknowingly board the ship of Captain Thank Panke, a very polite, well reputable tradeswoman. Cousin to warden Shank.
She talks longingly about the sea and how she misses the excitement travelling, and just as Ritic is ready to give up and walk away, she offers her assistance and one of her ships. On the condition she doesn’t get forced to do anything barbaric.

The party sail for a few hours before being attacked by two giant octopi – Lovingly named Gertie and Jennifer by Thank – Fighting them off, Ander calms Gertie enough that she is able to flee with her baby, though Jennifer (a very territorial male) did not get so lucky, and the party overcame him. But not before covering Toriin in gross octopus goo.

As the sun starts to set Ander suggests they take a rest at Candlemere so as to be strong for the next day, but whilst Traga is on watch, and everyone is asleep, he is attacked by a Will-O-Wisp.
Waking from their slumber (with some difficulty for Roxee), the party manage to fight it off and as the last blow is dealt, they hear the words “Thank you” whispered in the wind.
Though successful, they did not come out completely unscathed. Traga has burns all over his skin his hair has fried off and Ritic is hosting a small bite mark on his nose from Anders rat familiar.

The party manage to make it through the rest of the night without further incident, and, waking in the morning, Thank makes everyone a full breakfast and complements Tragas new look.

Attendance

Austin as DM
Ben as Ritic, Half-elf Paladin of Order
Minami as Traga, Half-orc Trapper
Alex as Meron, Goblin Savage
Jessica as Aspen of Accacia, Eladrin

Story Summary

Following a recovery of their exploits in securing troll tears, Meron and Ritic made plans to accomplish another task on the jobs board: Hunting the forest drake nesting to the west. Overhearing a job offer, Aspen trails the duo as they get in contact with Traga, who was on his way to hunt the drake anyway.

The newly formed party met with Inquisitor Humphras to accept the quest and then set out into the forest.

After encountering a falling net trap, the party came upon a pair of elven druids asking their business. Hearing they intended to poach the forst drake, they tried to talk the group out of it, failing that, the two druids retreated into the forest to alert others.

Resting for the night, the party found themselves surrounded by Mould creatures that they pushed through and escaped, losing them after a short while.

Eventually, the party discovered the Forest Drake’s lair, a large tree hollow almost 2 days from town. After a failed attempt to capture bait and trap the drake and an encounter with the Drake’s poison breath, the party set up camp a half-hour from the tree hollow.

Returning the next day, the party discovered the Drake in a hollow half-way up the large tree. After a short fight, the drake escaped with an egg in its maw and fled across the tree canopy, escaping the party.

The group returned to town, keen to rest-up, regroup and better prepare to face the drake.

Story Summary

Returning to Tuskhaven, the trio regrouped and recruited three additional hands to attempt again to defeat the troll.

Setting back out, the party came to face a group of three centaurs claiming to be part of a new tribe known as ‘Hooves of Fury’. The situation escalated and eventually one of the centaurs was killed. The others fled, one sustaining injuries, and one having been rejected from joining the party.

The following day, the party were located by a large tribe of centaurs who were angry one of their own had been killed. It was revealed that the trio of centaurs were a group of children, one being the chief’s son. Ritik managed to salvage the situation by convincing the centaur who tried to join the party to tell the truth. The two remaining centaurs of the trio were then banished from their tribe.

Towards the end of the second day, the party arrived at the cave. hearing an incantation being muttered inside, the group waited until the spell was completed, bursting in on the hag as she was preparing to leave. With a well placed javelin, the witch was knocked from her broom, the witch was pummeled to her death.

The party recovered the trapped troll and then proceeded to decapitate it, squeezing 8 tear drops into vials.

The party returned to Tuskhaven victorious, where they learned Lady Senetta had mostly assigned that quest as a joke. She handed over her 50 gold pieces and went back to her drinking.

Experience Summary

Story Awards

The Secret IngredientCOMPLETE+1000

Subtotal +0

Encounter Awards

Hooves of Fury +1350
The Centaur of Attention +450
Hag & Troll +2500

Subtotal +4300

Travel Awards

4x Days Travel +200

Subtotal +200

Total Experience Earned

5550/6 = 925xp per player

Item Rewards

Troll head and body parts

50 gold pieces (8 each, with an extra for Osvald and Traga)

Various Common & Uncommon Herbs (3gp value)

The rare reagents/herbs for “love tea”, when brewed with boiling water replicates the effects of “Philter of Love” (DMG 184)

Small Diamonds and Emeralds (6gp value)

A potion of healing (DMG 187)

Oil of Slipperiness (DMG 184)

Potion of Animal Friendship (DMG 187)

A potion you have been unable to identify…

Two mason jars (similar to those the troll was trapped in) heavily fogged up and covered in condensation with labels written in a language you can’t decipher.

Story Summary

As Elle sliced through the cage holding Vergrand, A “spirit” was awoken, raising a lizardfolk skull from the centre of the table, ordering them to leave. After a short time, the blue light left the skull and forced itself into the semi-conscious Vergrand, still within the cage. Vergrand began to glow blue, with piercing blue eye bulbs as she was possessed by this blue light. The party tried to destroy the spirit by destroying the skull, but to no avail. As the posessed vergrand attacked, the party fought back, eventually downing the halfling after it had downed two of the party members. Being expelled from the body, the blue light successfully consumed the life force of Lord Ewyn and Sheriff Isabel, ending their lives.

With a final fire bolt, Crimson Clover destroyed the blue orb, ending the conflict.

King Vesket revealed that the “evil spirit” had overtaken the peace of their village and had ruled them through fear. When Vergrand had arrived yesterday, the spirit had threatened them with death if they did not capture her. In that battle, many lizardfolk lives were lost.

The king listens to the proposals of Elle and Crimson Clover and sends them home with a raft and one of his mating females, to act as his representative to Tuskhaven. The party head off, taking their dead companions with them.

When Vergrand came to, she explained that the “spirit” was in fact a will-o-wisp that sought vengeance for Vergrand and her previous party, where they had destroyed the wisps’ haunt in Candlemere tower. She was silently brooding for most of the trip home.

Experience Summary

Story Awards

Isle of the Lizard King
In Progress +1000

Subtotal +1000

Encounter Awards

Negarand +1800Isabelle and Ewyn’s Share -900

Wispy Wengence +200

Subtotal +1100

Travel Awards

2x Days Travel +100

Subtotal +100

Total Experience Earned

2200/2 = 1100xp per player

Item Rewards

A certificate (each) entitling the use of the suffix ‘Esquire’ in formal correspondence, representing the service to the County of Tuskhaven, Vassal to the Dragonskull Empire.

Two letters of credit (addressed to the two surviving party members), redeemable at the First International Bank of Sandwich, for the equivalent of 50 gold pieces (each)

Attendance

Story Summary

The party was brought together by a monetary reward for the collection of troll tears. Studying some old maps, the party made their way north into the plains land to a cave they believed was troll-inhabited.

Discovering the troll had been removed from the cave, and fighting off the giant boar that had moved in, the party suspected a Hag was to blame based on the magical reagents, long white hairs and broken broomstick that was left behind.

Finding what they suspected to be the Hag’s house, the party broke inside to retrieve the Troll, that Oswald discovered had been trapped in a bottle similar to those discovered among the reagents at the cave.

Crossing the threshold of the hut holding the troll jar activated an enchantment, transforming the house stilts into grotesque chicken legs and the windows into beady eyes. After dodging potions thrown by the inside of the house and rolling out of the way of the stomping chicken feet, the party tripped the chicken house, resulting in a large alchemical explosion.

Returning to the cave, the party released the troll before quickly realising they were outmatched. The party headed back to the town, keen to recruit additional adventurers to take down the troll.